After much deliberation, several migranes and a few packets of the strongest over-the-counter sedatives I could find, my list of the Top 209 Songs of 2009 is ready for public viewing. You’ll find some slight commentary for the first 50 entires which, really, are all Song-of-the-year worthy candidates. I hope you enjoy reading through the list nearly half as much as I’ve enjoyed listening to all of the songs on it.

001 LADY GAGA – Bad Romance
Never did I think that Lady GaGa, not in a million years, would be the person to craft the years ultimate love song. And I truly see it as that; An honestly remarkable, astonishing love song. It will forever remain an important staple in whatever legacy GaGa may bestow upon us in years to come, but it also signals – for me personally – the perfect way to kiss-off 2009 which, in itself, was a Bad Romance in its own right. Singing of a bad romance (something I certainly encountered a few times over the year), Lady GaGa took all of that urgency, that burning desire of infatuation, and threw it into a loud, primal nutbag love-affair, the kind where the mind may not be the one making all the decisions; “I want your ugly, I want your disease. I want your everything as long as it’s free; I want your love.” But perhaps the songs greatest moment; both musically and lyrically, is the astonishing middle-8; “I want your love; I don’t wanna be friends” – she cries amidst some French, before lunging into the heartbreaking banshee cries of “I don’t wanna be friends! Want your Bad Romance!” – It’s spine-tingling stuff, and identifiable for those of us with a little bit more, er, ‘passion’ than most (hem hem). But more importantly, it was the first truly exciting chapter in the making of a pop culture Icon, right before our eyes. There is something so incredibly special about pop music when it’s executed as brilliantly as “Bad Romance” was, and that is why there is absolutely no question whatsoever that it is the Greatest Song of 2009.

002 FREEMASONS feat. SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR – Heartbreak (Club Mix)
I sparrowed on all year about THIS being my prime candidate for Song of the Year status. Then GaGa happened and, well, you all know how this story ends. But credit does need to go where credit is due; and this song is major, in particular this club mix. The song, which popped up well over a year (almost two even?) ago in demo form, was taken to glamorous heights by the Freemasons; their re-swizz and production-tweaking lead to one of the most sensational disco songs of the decade. And those strings; oh, those strings! Orgasmic.

003 GOSSIP – Heavy Cross (Fred Falke Remix)
When the original version of Gossip’s lead single from their Music For Men LP surfaced, I was sort-of nonplussed by it. The lyrics and Ditto’s vocal execution were all dynamite, but the actual music was where it suffered. It sounded hurried and, to be honest, a little ugly. In comes Fred Falke, who turns the angry, chaotic mess of an original into, well; a beautiful swan. Falke turning “Heavy Cross” into an epic nightclub destroyer (one who had its proverbial heart in-toe with its feet on the disco-floor) opened the vulnerability of Beth’s lyrics up in the most beautiful of ways. The absolute highpoint in both artist and remixers careers.

004 FAGGET FAIRYS – Oci
Clare, a best friend of mine, introduced the imaginatively named Fagget Fairys to me earlier in the year. The two girls, Elena (vocals) and Carla (the DJ), although Copenhagen based actually hail from my families mother-country; Bosnia. With clever balkan-riffs, Elena and Carla stew the Eastern-block flavour with heavy electro and hip-hop beats in this, a song when translated into English tells the story of a lost love of the Lesbian Variety. Oci, in Bosnian, means ‘eyes’, and the song details this beautiful girl with green eyes; “My heart sings her name for her.” Overlooked, but hopefully they’ll get a bit more love in 2010.

005 ANTIGONE – To Be Real
In a year when a lot got me down (and where the music seemed to comply with that), it was nice to find a song like the majestic “To Be Real” – the kind of song that gives you affirmation. I often turned to Antigone’s debut album Antigone Land for that necessary lift over the year, but this song in particular played an important part in reminding me that life is to be lived AND loved, particular the line “Turn my anger to production, be true to my groove and prove me on horizon! To. Be. Real.” It was a lovely way to remind myself that nobody likes the company of a sooky-sally, but also to remember that the positives often do outweigh the negative; so long as you’re being yourself.

006 YEAH YEAH YEAHS – Runaway
Oh look; another sad song. I won’t go on about all of this too much but it’s here for a reason, the reason being that it’s a truly phenomenal song that gives the bands own magnum opus, “Maps”, a very solid run for its money.

007 LADY GAGA – So Happy I Could Die
I have a theory that there’s more to this song than it just being an ode to masturbation. Club, friend references, combined with the use of “up in the clouds coz we’re higher than ever”; it’s obvious this song is not just about masturbation. Drugs and Masturbation more like it, which is a likely case seeing as GaGa herself has admitted to being the fan of ‘enhancing’ her celebrations with some chemical fun. Top song but.

008 MATT VAN SCHIE – Two Love (Demo)
This, in demo form alone, is Song of the Year-worthy. A dreamy slice of electropop by the equally as dreamy Matt from Van She, I cannot wait to hear the final and finished product of this bonzapop. With his upcoming solo side-project, Matt’s set to plant his feet firmly in the world of Pop as the Male answer to Ladyhawke; euphoric, luscious love songs (”with eyes like that, you don’t need to hide”), with sure-fire choruses and killer production.

009 ARCTIC MONKEYS – Cornerstone
“Can I call you her name?” Perhaps the cheekiest Monkeys frontman Alex Turner has sounded on record, which showcased furthermore how strong his work as a lyricist is.

010 BAT FOR LASHES – Daniel
“Daniel” reminds me of Bertine Zetlitz’s equally as magnificent single “Midnite” from a few years back; that fresh’n'crisp, yet almost dated sound? They both execute it really well. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, particularly so driving home as the sun is rising after a night out.

Numbers 11 – 209; after the jump >>>

011 FRANKMUSIK – Vacant Heart
Came in at #191 in my chart last year. Slight jump this time around.

012 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Drumming Song
Breaks my heart.

013 MINI VIVA – Left My Heart In Tokyo
In a year of no new Girls Aloud single or album, Mini Viva, also driven by the Aloud’s writing and production house Xenomania, threw several top-notch pop tracks into the musical radar. Sure, there were comparisons to The Aloud, but if anything, Mini Viva are to be compared to the likes of Mel & Kim, rather than their fellow musical-housemates. Fun, spikey, energetic pop, with two fresh faces fronting it all.

014 LADY GAGA – Dance In The Dark
Big and loud IDM/Industrial-goth beats with a europop chorus and killer middle-8/talky-bit.

015 HURTS – Wonderful Life
Another to watch in 2010; the UK’s HURTS’ debut single grew as a favourite at a rapid pace. Repeated listens everywhere I went for a good two weeks has resulted in it placing so high come years end. Imagine if they worked with Madonna? It’d be bliss.

016 NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Lukas
Natalie Umbrella goes for a frolic through the gardens of Kate Bush in this, the best moment on Natalie’s ace (and ignored) fourth album. Chorus; oooooof.

017 SHAKIRA – She Wolf
Arooooooo!! The lyrics “I’m starting to feel just a little abused like a coffee machine in an office” are definitely some of the decades best. Bitch is bonkers, and that’s why we love her.

018 LILY ALLEN – Chinese
I fucking adore this song to death, even if it was the song the critics probably panned the most. Meh.

019 PAUL KALKBRENNER – Sky & Sand (Bootleg Mix)
One of the most beautiful dance songs of the decade, from one of the genres finest producers.

020 ALPHABEAT – Heart Failure
I actually think this should have been the lead single OVER “The Spell.” Just a thought.

021 GIRLS ALOUD – Memory Of You
The eighth greatest Girls Aloud song ever and it was released as a B-Side. 2009’s biggest pop injustice.

022 LADY GAGA feat. BEYONCE – Telephone
Double-hand-claps. Win.

023 MADONNA – Celebration
“I see a little hesitation, and Madonna, have to show ya that if it feels right, get on the floor, step to the beat boy, that’s what it’s for!” Thank you to William for the correct lyrics.

024 ANNIE – Songs Remind Me Of You
So good, I included it for the second year in a row. Was #22 last year.

025 LADY GAGA – Monster
He ate my heart and then he ate my brain.

026 BLACK EYED PEAS – Meet Me Halfway
A cross between Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” and Madonna’s “Physical Attraction.” Amazing. And it’s ALL about Fergie’s sublime chorus.

027 LADY GAGA – Alejandro
GaGa’s tribute to this, no doubt.

028 LILY ALLEN – Kabul Shit
Another of the overlooked moments from Lily this year, and yet another killer track offloaded as a B-Side in the chart. Couple of those scattered across the list, actually.

029 CALVIN HARRIS – Flashback
How is it that Calvin seems to get sexier in each video?

030 JUNIOR BOYS – Parallel Lines
Suave electronica.

031 CHERYL COLE – Fight For This Love
Cheryl’s debut as a soloist may have been given the thumbs-down by a number of bloggers and critics over the year, but by God, didn’t it feel like it spent the entire year in the UK Top 10? A brilliant start to what could be a promising career on her own.

032 MADONNA – Benny Benassi
With the album version of Madonna’s “Celebration” being scrapped when it came to making the video, the Benny Benassi remix was chosen to replace it. Once again, back to my lovely friend William (ex Fop blogger), who said to me on Facebook earlier this year “Do you like Madonna’s new single, ‘Benny Benassi’?” Hence, its placement in the chart as “Benny Benassi”, rather than “Celebration.” Carry on.

033 CASSETTE KIDS – Lying Around
Another to watch in 2010; these guys are at a creative high and I’m expecting HUGE things from their debut album coming in the New Year.

034 PATRICIA KAAS – Et S’il Fallait Le Faire
Glenn Close at Eurovision. The demonic, frightening and dramatic French Eurovision entry this year, “Et S’il Fallait Le Faire” was not quite my cup of tea; that is until I saw Kaas perform it at the actual final. WHAT A DIVA! And what a song. If you click the link, watch till the end for the spooky dancing; it’s magnificent.

035 TIESTO feat. TEGAN & SARA – Feel It In My Bones
BIG stuff. 2009 may have been the year for David Guetta to shine as the pop-crossover superstar DJ, but it SHOULD have been Tiesto, and this massive club-ballad is the finest of the lot.

036 MIIKE SNOW – A Horse Is Not A Home
Is this an ode to Ketamine (or perhaps an anti-Ketamine message), or a sonnet for Sarah Jessica Parker? We will never know.

037 BASEMENT JAXX feat. YOKO ONO – Day Of The Sunflowers
The shining moment on Basement Jaxx’s generally ropey last album, this is truly something special. I make no apologies for my undying love of Yoko Ono, and this collaboration is certainly no exception. The best bit? That sensational beat-drop at the 4″50′ mark.

038 SUGABABES v3.0 – About A Girl
Shortly after the radio rip of Keisha’s version surfaced, I actually went on Facebook and changed all of the lyrics to “You don’t know about A-dem.” Madness.

039 PEACHES – Lose You
My favourite Peaches moment since “Fuck The Pain Away.”

040 J CALDERA feat. SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR – Can’t Fight This Feeling
Should have been huge. Sophie can do no wrong at this point.

041 TIESTO feat. SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM – I Will Be Here (Tiesto Remix)
OOF! Fucking CORKER.

042 LADY GAGA – Bad Romance (Bimbo Jones Remix)
A remix so good, it deserved its own placing.

043 BOOTY LUV – Say It (Extended Mix)
It’s ALL about the bit from 4″15 and onward, innit?

044 SARAH HARDING – Too Bad
Sarah Harding pays tribute to ABBA. It’s the verses, however, that are more interesting than the chorus though, but that’s not slating the chorus by any means. Hopefully a sign of things to come from England’s National Treasure.

045 POLLY SCATTERGOOD – Other Too Endless (Vince Clarke Mix)
This remix has single-handedly made me excited about Polly. Hopefully someone can convince her to produce some tunes with this Vince Clarke fellow, eh?

046 LADY GAGA – Speechless
Ahhhhh-ahhh, haaaaaa-aha-aaaaah-haaa!

047 MADONNA – It’s So Cool
A Confessions/Mirwais cut-off, this surfaced as an iTunes bonus track for the release of the Celebration Greatest Hits collection. Fools. This is 100 times better than her next single, the truly awful David Guetta remixed “Revolver.”

048 ROYKSOPP feat. ROBYN – The Girl & The Robot
A triumph for both parties involved.

049 V.V. Brown – This Charming Man
Yet another single-worthy moment regurgitated as a B-Side, VV’s cover of The Smiths classic not only proved to be better than most tracks off her debut album, it also proved to be better than the original.

050 LADY GAGA – No Way
I know, I know, it sounds like Britney’s “Quicksand”, but that is Britney, and this is GaGa. There is a big difference.

051 VAN SHE – It Could Be The Same (Ze Vemix)
052 PAUL KALKBRENNER – Aaron
053 MIIKE SNOW – Silvia
054 ALESHA DIXON – Breathe Slow
055 ART vs SCIENCE – Parlez Vous Francasi?
056 ROGUE TRADERS – Love Is A War
057 LADY GAGA – Teeth
058 NEILS V GOGH & SPACEKID – Integrity & Honesty (Strauss Mix)
059 PET SHOP BOYS – The Way It Used To Be (Richard X Mix)
060 THE JUAN MACLEAN – Happy House

061 ARCTIC MONKEYS – Potion Approaching
062 TIGA – Love Don’t Dance Here Anymore
063 SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM – It’s Not My Problem (Thin White Duke Mix)
064 VITALIC – Poison Lips
065 ANTIGONE – Life Without You
066 ANTHONIO/ANNIE – Annie/Anthonio
067 ALPHABEAT – The Beat Is
068 FRIENDLY FIRES – Skeleton Boy (7″ Single Version)
069 TINA COUSINS – Sex On Fire (Topham & Twiggsters Radio Mix)
070 MATT VAN SCHIE – Saturday Night

071 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
072 ALEXANDRA BURKE feat. FLO RIDA – Bad Boys
073 PET SHOP BOYS – Love etc.
074 EROL ALKAN & BOYS NOIZE – Waves
075 JADE EWEN – Punching Out
076 CALVIN HARRIS – You Used To Hold Me
077 ERIK HASSLE – All That I Wanted Was You
078 ABE DUQUE & BLAKE BAXTER – What Happened? (Marc Romboy Re-rub)
079 ERIK HASSLE – Wanna Be Loved
080 ALPHABEAT – The Spell

081 CHERYL COLE feat. WILL.I.AM – 3 Words
082 FRIENDLY FIRES feat. AU REVOIR SIMONE – Paris (Aeroplane Remix)
083 YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND – The Sun Is Down
084 REGINA – Bistra Voda
085 ALEXANDRA BURKE – All Night Long
086 TIESTO feat. NELLY FURTADO – Who Wants To Be Alone
087 ZOOT WOMAN – Just A Friend Of Mine
088 AUTOKRATZ – Always More
089 CHERYL COLE – Parachute
090 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Swimming

091 MISS KITTIN & THE HACKER – Two
092 BLONDIE vs BLACK EYED PEAS – Black Eyed Blondie
093 WHITNEY HOUSTON – Million Dollar Bill
094 GIRLS ALOUD – Untouchable
095 CHERYL COLE feat. TAIO CRUZ – Stand Up
096 SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO – Audacity Of Huge
097 THE SATURDAYS – Ego
098 CHERYL COLE – Rain On Me
099 GOSSIP – Love Long Distance
100 BEYONCE – Halo (Dave Aude Club Remix)

101 FEADZ – Constant Ovulation
102 KELLY CLARKSON – My Life Would Suck Without You
103 DAVID GUETTA feat. KELLY ROWLAND – When Love Takes Over
104 ALEXANDER RYBAK – Fairytale
105 BAT FOR LASHES – Pearl’s Dream
106 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Hurricane Drunk
107 NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Fun
108 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Blinding
109 LITTLE BOOTS feat. PHILIP OAKEY – Symmetry
110 SHAKIRA – Men In This Town

111 SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO feat. ALEXIS TAYLOR – Bad Blood
112 PALOMA FAITH – Play On
113 PET SHOP BOYS – More Than A Dream
114 FRIENDLY FIRES – White Diamonds
115 YEAH YEAH YEAHS – Heads Will Roll
116 YEAH YEAH YEAHS – Zero
117 GROOVE ARMADA – I Won’t Kneel
118 HENRIK SCHWARZ – Where We At? (Part 2)
119 JLS – Kickstart
120 NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Scars

121 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Girl With One Eye
122 THE SATURDAYS – Just Can’t Get Enough (Wideboys Mix)
123 PEACHES – I Feel Cream
124 ANNIE – My Love Is Better
125 THE JUAN MACLEAN – One Day
126 ANTIGONE – Palomino
127 TAYLOR SWIFT – Love Story
128 JORDIN SPARKS – Battlefield
129 RIHANNA – Mad House
130 JANET JACKSON – Make Me

131 THE SATURDAYS – Work (Cahill Radio Edit)
132 SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO – Off The Map
133 KYLIE MINOGUE – Speakerphone (Steve Anderson Studio)
134 CAR STEREO WARS – Radio Edit
135 DANNII MINOGUE – Free Your Love (Extended Mix)
136 SADE – Soldier Of Love
137 JOSH WINK – Counter Clock 319 (Chris Liebing)
138 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Dog Days Are Over
139 FRANKMUSIK – Time Will Tell
140 GOSSIP – Pop Goes The World

141 LA ROUX – Tigerlily
142 MARINA & THE DIAMONDS – Seventeen
143 SALLY SHAPIRO – Save Your Love
144 ANTIGONE – Waking Up Slowly
145 NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Want
146 RADIO SLAVE – GRINDHOUSE (Dubfire Terror Planet Mix)
147 VANESSA AMOROSI – This Is Who I Am
148 ARCTIC MONKEYS – Secret Door
149 MISS KITTIN & THE HACKER – Party In My Head
150 NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – My God

151 ROYKSOPP – Royksopp Forever
152 PUSSYCAT DOLLS – Hush Hush (I Will Survive)
153 ROYKSOPP – Tricky Tricky
154 SALLY SHAPIRO – My Fantasy
155 NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Twenty
156 BASEMENT JAXX feat. SAM SPARRO – Feelings Gone
157 WHITNEY HOUSTON – Nothin’ But Love
158 ZOOT WOMAN – Saturation
159 LILY ALLEN – Not Fair
160 ERIK HASSLE – Love Me To Pieces

161 SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO feat. BETH DITTO – Cruel Intentions
162 TIESTO feat. EMILY HAINES – Knock You Out
163 CHERYL COLE – Make Me Cry
164 FRIENDLY FIRES – Paris
165 MINI VIVA – I Wish (Cahill Club Mix)
166 ALEXANDRA BURKE – Nothing But The Girl
167 MILEY CYRUS – Party In The U.S.A.
168 CASCADA – Ready Or Not
169 VITALIC – See The Sea (Red)
170 ZOOT WOMAN – Lonely By Your Side

171 VITALIC – Your Disco Song (Extended)
172 DANGER – 07:46
173 COUER DE PIRATE – Comme Des Enfants
174 CASCADA – Evacuate The Dancefloor
175 ALPHABEAT – Heatwave
176 WEST END GIRLS – A Little Black Dress
177 AQUA – Spin Me A Christmas
178 LITTLE BOOTS – Meddle
179 ANNIE – Don’t Stop
180 ANTIGONE – Into Your Head

181 FRANKMUSIK – When You’re Around
182 ALEXANDRA BURKE – Broken Heels
183 PASSION PIT – The Reeling
184 PALOMA FAITH – Upside Down
185 BANANARAMA – Love Comes
186 ARCTIC MONKEYS – Pretty Visitors
187 JAMES ASH – Son Of ‘91
188 PATRICK WOLF – Hard Times
189 DAISY DARES YOU – Daisy Dares You
190 KATY PERRY – Waking Up In Vegas (Manhattan Clique Edit)

191 CICADA – Don’t Stare At The Sun
192 JUST JACK – Embers
193 POLLY SCATTERGOOD – Please Don’t Touch (Golden Filter Pop Mix)
194 VANESSA AMOROSI – Blow Me Away
195 ANNIE – Hey Annie
196 CALVIN HARRIS – Stars Come Out
197 LILY ALLEN – Who’d Have Known
198 YEAH YEAH YEAHS – Skeletons
199 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE – Summertime Clothes
200 ARCTIC MONKEYS – Dance Little Liar

201 WHITNEY HOUSTON – A Song For You
202 LILY ALLEN – Back To The Start
203 ALPHABEAT – Always Up With You
204 FRANKMUSIK – Gotta Boyfriend?
205 DATA – Skywriter
206 SUGABABES v3.0 – Wait For You
207 GOSSIP – Dimestore Diamond
208 RIHANNA – Russian Roulette
209 PAUL KALKBRENNER – Moob